What does the term heterozygous signify in genetics?

Prepare for the Mark Klimek Blue Book Part 1 Exam. Study with multiple choice questions, flashcards, and comprehensive explanations. Get ready for your nursing exam!

Heterozygous refers to the genetic condition where an individual has two different alleles for a particular gene, meaning they possess one normal allele and one defective or mutated allele. This distinction is important in genetics because the presence of two different alleles can influence how traits are expressed, particularly when considering dominant and recessive traits. For instance, if one allele is dominant, it may mask the expression of the recessive allele, leading to a phenotype that could represent the dominant trait.

The other options do not accurately describe the term heterozygous. Having two identical alleles for a trait defines a homozygous condition rather than heterozygous. Expressing a dominant phenotype does not inherently indicate whether an individual is heterozygous; a homozygous dominant individual could also express the same phenotype. Lastly, having no genetic variations would imply a lack of alleles and diversity in the genetic code, which doesn't apply to the concept of heterozygosity that relies on the presence of different alleles. Thus, the definition of heterozygous aligns perfectly with the correct choice regarding the presence of one normal and one defective gene.

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